Managing Risk
Case Study
16-year-old "C" was referred to an LCS Shared House placement with supporting keywork, as “medium risk”. Referral identified risks including inappropriate sexual behaviour, frequent missing episodes and hygiene issues, including bedwetting.
During referral, we used all existing risk assessments to inform our comprehensive review – and developed a risk management plan agreed with CSC and C. This live document was regularly reviewed/updated.
"C" was matched with experienced staff trained in CSE and extensive risk management. Addressing continence issues, we sourced a specialist, easy-clean bed, and supported "C" to access sexual health clinics to address STIs and improve sexual health, and specialist urology referrals.
As we got to know "C", additional risks emerged with higher complexities than initially reported to us. "C" associated with highly unsuitable groups – including known sex offenders and older men involved in grooming and drugs – putting "C" at increased coercion risk, and online exploitation. We responded immediately by:
- Implementing Multi Agency Risk Management (MARM) meetings – including police
- Holding daily meetings/calls with LA and social workers – reviewing risk logs and management of "C"’s safety
- Increasing "C"’s support – including specialist, targeted support, working to reduce missing episodes, encouraging them to ask for help, and emergency support protocols if ever they felt at risk
- Developing increasingly strong positive peer relationships within the house
- Supporting "C" to remove exploitive images from internet, teaching about internet safety, and implementing protective measures (including restricted/supervised use)
- Feeding into police intel forms daily, including reporting/sharing:
- CCTV images of visitors
- Checked/copied ID of associates
- Car/taxi registration plates
- Locations/times offenders were gathering
- Websites "C" had been exploited via, and bank statement evidence (accessed with their permission)
Internally, we:
- Implemented Critical Incident reviews, ensuring:
- Ongoing safety of all residents and staff
- Learning was carried forward
- Ensured staff met daily – ensuring risk logs/contact sheets were updated and shared
- He held daily case discussions with LCS senior management, ensuring ongoing oversight/risk management
Working with police, we uncovered a network of serious offenders, resulting in large-scale police investigations and multiple arrests.
Police recommended "C"’s relocation out-of-borough. We supported this by:
- Working with "C" to overcome initial reluctance
- Collaborating with police to identify an appropriate placement
- Supporting the move, ensuring ongoing safety, and briefing new providers
- Ensuring referrals i.e. urology, were maintained and our work continued
"C" has contacted LCS, updating us on progress: They are happier, settled, working on self-care including healthy activities like swimming and horse-riding.
The shared house went into isolation due to Covid-19 risks. Ensuring ongoing young people’s wellbeing and risk mitigation:
- Three LCS staff entered lock-down too – providing ongoing support including fun and healthy activities
- Staff received daily virtual clinical supervisions with a therapist from our wider services
- We liaised regularly with mental health services to manage isolation-related risks